Message of Abbot Paul - Wednesday 8th March 2023
Abbot Paul • March 8, 2023
You might remember that in September I visited our monastery in Peru for the Canonical Visitation. It was my first visit since February 2020. Six months after a visitation, it’s customary to revisit a monastery to see whether advice given has been acted on and things are improving. Yesterday I held the first of a few days interviewing the monks from the superior down to the last postulant. Even a good, well-run monastery can make improvements to strengthen its monastic observance and bonds of charity among the brethren. We’re in late Summer now and it was a particularly hot day, not to sort of day you want to be cooped up inside carrying out interviews. A visit to a nearby beach would have been a more pleasant option! On the other hand, in the north, where we first lived, they had torrential rains caused by the Niño.
Our Gospel passage today comes from Matthew, (Mt 20: 17-28), in which we find Jesus and his disciples making their way to Jerusalem for what would be their last visit. He tells them of his forthcoming arrest, condemnation, crucifixion and brutal death and how on the third day he will rise again. You would think that this alone would give them enough to think about, but no, two of them had other things on their minds. It’s the mother of Zebedee’s sons who comes forward with a request. “Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus’ reply is direct and to the point. “You don’t know what you’re asking for.” He addresses the brothers. “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” When they answer, “We can,” he replies, “Drink it you will, but a place at my right hand and at my left is only my Father’s to give. The others are indignant, but Jesus insists that theirs is a vocation to service carried out with humility and that the first among them must be as a salve or a servant. He reminds them that, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Their own vocation can be no different and that goes for all his disciples, including you and me.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
